Aaron Sorkin discussed drug overdoses with Philip Seymour Hoffman

Acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin had a candid conversation about drug overdoses with Philip Seymour Hoffman prior to the actor’s death. The Oscar-winning screenwriter worked with Hoffman on 2007 drama Charlie Wilson’s War and he has now revealed they swapped tales of excess as they had both battled drug problems in the past.
However, Sorkin admits the conversation they had now seems extra poignant after Hoffman was found dead following a suspected overdose on Sunday (02Feb14).
In a piece written for Time.com, Sorkin explains, “Phil Hoffman and I had two things in common. We were both fathers of young children, and we were both recovering drug addicts… On breaks during rehearsals, we would sometimes slip outside… and get to swapping stories. It’s not unusual to have these mini-AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings – people like us are the only ones to whom tales of insanity don’t sound insane… I told him I felt lucky because I’m squeamish and can’t handle needles. He told me to stay squeamish. And he said this: ‘If one of us dies of an overdose, probably 10 people who were about to won’t.’ He meant that our deaths would make news and maybe scare someone clean.”
Sorkin goes on to insist that if Hoffman is found to have died of a heroin overdose, he hopes others will be frightened into giving up the drug for good.
He adds, “(He) did not die from an overdose of heroin – he died from heroin. We should stop implying that if he’d just taken the proper amount then everything would have been fine. He didn’t die because he was partying too hard or because he was depressed – he died because he was an addict on a day of the week with a y in it. He’ll have his well-earned legacy… his Truman Capote and his Academy Award. Let’s add to that 10 people who were about to die who won’t now.”
A postmortem examination of Hoffman’s body was inconclusive and officials will now wait for the results of toxicology tests to determine the cause of the actor’s death.